Piano.



Nu. 65!,074. Patented 1m 5, 1900. E. L. HDLCOMBE.

P A N O (Application filed Nov. 22, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

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N0. 65l,074. I Patented June 5, l900. E. L. HOLCOMBE.

PIANO.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 65|,074. Patented June 5, I900. E. L. HULCDMBE.

PIANO.

(Application filed Nov. 22,1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

N x 0 0 \a N n15 nonms PETERS co, FHGTD-LITHO,HASH1NGTON n cy No.65|,074. Patented June 5, I900.

' E. L. HOLCUMBE.

PIANO.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1899.)

4 Shee tsSheet 4.

(No Model.)

THE NORRIS Pz'rcfls co. PHOTO-LiTNO.WASHINGTON, a. z.

UNITED STATns PATENT @nnroit. I

EDGAR L. IIOLCOMBE, OF MAROELENA, TEXAS.

PIANO.

S-PEGIFIlG-ATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 651,074, dated. June5, 1960.

Application filed November 22, 1899. Serial No. 737,881. (No model) To(tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR L. HoLooMBE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marcelena, in the county of WVilson and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Piano, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to pianos in general, and more particularly tothat class in which the strings are vibrated through the medium of abow, as in a violin, instead of being struck with hammers in accordancewith the usual method, one object of the invention being to produce aconstruction in which the strings will be successively presented to thebow as the keys are successively depressed and in which any number ofstrings may be simultaneously presented to the bow for the striking ofchords.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for moving thestrings of the treble bodily into engagement with the bow and to provideother details for the production ofa practical and efficient instrument.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichsimilar numerals of reference designate like and corresponding parts inthe several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the exteriorof a piano constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 4 looking to the left and including thekeyboard and adjacent parts. Fig. 3 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 4looking to the right and showing the keyboard,the keys, and theconnections betweenithe keys and a slidable spring-supporting frame.Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing portions of the mechanism of thepiano and taken through the keys directlyin the rear of the front boardof the piano. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing a key and themechanism connected therewith for holding a corresponding string orgroup of strings out of contact with the bow. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective showing the bow and its driving-drum and illustrating also aportion of the reciprocatory rod for moving the bow to vary its pressureagainst the strings and change the volume of sound. Fig. 7 is a detailview showing the gearing for driving the bow-supporting drum at one endof the bow. Fig. 8 is a view, partially in section and partially inelevation, showing one of the movable frames which support the treblestrings and the means for holding it projected. Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview showing the means for operating, the bar shown in Fig. 6 to movethe bow toward and away from the strings. Fig. 10 is a perspective viewshowing the operating-pedal and its connections for rotating thecrank-shaft shown in Fig. 7. the means for starting the crank-shaftshown in Fig. 7 to throw it off its dead-center. Fig. 12 is a diagramshowing the method of construction of the bow. Fig. 13 is a diagramshowing the method of assembling the hairs of the bow.

Referring now to the drawings, 15 repre sents the casing of theinstrument, which comprises bottom 16, sides 17 and 18, a top 19, and aback 20. In the back of the casing is disposed a sound-board 21, havingastringplate bridge 22, over which is stretched a plurality of strings 23in the usual manner and which strings form the base and the middleregister of the instrument. The strings of the high treble are eachsupported upon a rectangular frame 24, at the upper and lower ends ofwhich are disposed tuning-pegs 25 and 26, to which the string isconnected, the string being passed over a bridge 27 upon the front piece28 ofthe frame and being braced bya sounding-post 29, extending from apoint beneath the bridge to the rear portion 30 of the frame, this rearportion being removably connected by means of screws or bolts, as shown,and to permit the insertion of the upper and lower bars of the framethrough openings 31 and 32 of the soundboard 21 and permit the passingof the sounding-post29 through the perforation 33. After the frame hasbeen thus applied the back bar or piece 30 is secured in place. Thestrings 23 have a tendency to lie straight from one bridge to the otherof the sounding-board and are normally held pressed back in the mannerpresently explained. The frames 24 are adapted to be projected forwardlyby means of springplates 34-, fixed rigidly thereto and having slidablehearing at their rear ends against the outer face of the sound-board, asshown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing When the strings 23 and thetreble-strings 35 are projected forwardly, they engage a bow, which isin the form of a belt 36, mounted upon drums 37 and 38. One of thesedrums is journaled between the arms of a U-shaped hanger 39, the stem ofwhich passes outwardly through the end 17 of the casing and is threadedfor the engagement of a thumb-nut 40, through the medium of which thehanger may be drawn outwardly or may be permitted to pass inwardly tovary the tension of the bow. The drum 37 at the opposite end has itsshaft 41 journaled in bearings supported upon a post 42, carried by across-beam 42 at its point of connection with a sill 44, which extendsoutwardly from the piano-casing and supports the keyboard. Mounted uponthe shaft of the drum 37 is a gear-wheel 43, which is beveled andengages a bevel-gear tt, mounted upon a crank-shaft 45, journaled in theupper end of the post 42. Connected with the crank of the shaft 45 is aconnecting-rod 46, which leads to the arm 47 of a rock-shaft 48, havingapedal 49 fixed thereon. Thus if the pedal 49 be operated the shaft 45will be rotated and the bow will be moved transversely of the string. Inorder that the shaft may be moved from its dead-center when starting themachine, the shaft has a ratchetwheel 50 fixed thereon, and which isadapted for engagementby a push-rod 51, pivoted at its lower end to abell-crank lever 2, attached at its lower end to a reciprocatory rod 53,pivoted to a pivoted lever 5t in the form of the usual knee-swellemployed upon an organ. The lever5 is adapted for engagement by the kneeof the operator, and thus when starting the bow-operating mechanism thislever 54 may be moved to shift the ratchet-wheel 50 and carry the shaftoff of its dead-center.

The strings 23 are normally held pressed back or retracted from the pathof movement of the bow, as are also the strings of the treble, which aremounted upon the frames 24, and in order to hold the strings in thisposition an action is provided. This action is supported by the beam 42and a corresponding and parallel beam 56, these beams having the sills4511- and 57 secured thereto and extending forwardlyof the front of thecasing of the piano and supporting the keyboard and its frame. The outerends of the sills are connected by a beam 57.

In the beams 56 and 42 are formed perforations, the correspondingperforations of the different beams being in alinement. Theseperforations are increased in diameter from their upperends downwardlyin the beams 42 and 56, the perforation of the beam 42 havingdisposed therein the pins 58,which areinserted in the lower ends ofrocking supports 59, while the perforations in the beam 56 receive thepins 60 at the angles of angular levers (31, one element of each of thelevers being continued forwardly to form the keys 62 of the instrument.Pivoted to the upper ends of the rocker 59 and lever 61 of .each key isa presser-bar 63, which is adapted for engagement at its inner end withthe corresponding string 23 of the piano. These push-bars 03 are heldnormally in their positions of engagement with the strings 23 by meansof spring-fingers 64, one end of each of which is fixed in a cross piece65, supported upon an upright 66 at one end of the casing and a secondupright 67 at the opposite end, and which uprights are mounted upon thesills 44: and 57. The movable ends of the spring-fingers (lat are fixedto presser-bloeks G8, the engaging surfaces of which are arc-shaped, asshown, and have a rolling contact with the prcsser-bars. Thus as eachkey 62 is depressed the presser-bar connected therewith is drawnforwardly and the corresponding string is released and moves forward andinto engagement with the bow, the movement of which latter causes thestring to vibrate and give forth its tone. The stringsupporting frames24: are also held normally retracted by means of push-bars 70, pivotallyconnected with the upper ends of rockers 71 and angular levers 72, thelevers 72 carrying keys which extend out into the keyboardframe. Thelower ends of the rockers 71 have pins 74, which enter perforations inthe beam 4-2, while the levers 72 have pins 75, which enter perforationsin the beam 56 and form pivotal bearings. The push-bars 70 are normallyheld projected againstthe frames 24c to hold them retracted by means ofspring-fingers 76, attached at their outer ends to the cross-beams andhaving blocks 77 pivotally connected at their movable ends, these blocks77 having arcshaped engaging faces which bear upon the push rods or barsand force them in the proper direction. Thus as each of the keys uponthe lovers 72 is dopressed the corresponding push rod or bar will bedrawn outwardly and will release a string-carrying frame,which will beprojected under the influence of its spring 3% and will engage the bow.\Vhen the key is released, the spring-tlnger 76 will force the framebackwardly and out of its operative position.

It is of course desirable that means be provided for varying theloudness of the sound of the instrument, and this result can beaccomplished by varying the pressure of the bow upon the strings. Inorder to vary this pressure, two rods 80 and 81 are provided withparallel rollers 82 and 83, respectively, at their outer ends, therollers of each of the rods receiving one side of the bow between them.In order to reciprocate these rods 80 and 81 to move the engaged side ofthe bow toward or away from the strings, bell-crank levers 84: and 85are pivotally mounted upon the cross-beam 65 and are pivotally connectedat one end to the rods 80 and 81. The opposite ends of the bell-cranklevers are pivoted to the arms 86 and 87 of a U-shaped frame,

the Web 88 of which is projected outwardly and lies beneath thekeyboard-frame. A knee-lever 89 is pivoted to the frame of theinstrument and has pivotal connection with the web 88, which latter hasslidable movement in hangers 89. Thus by operation of the knee-lever 89the rods and 81 may be reciprocated to correspondingly move that side ofthe bow adjacent to the strings toward and away from the strings to varythe pressure between the bow and the strings.

IVith the above construction it will be seen that by operation of thepedal 49 the bow may be caused to travel transversely of the strings andthat if the keys be then depressed the corresponding strings may bepresented to the bow and will be vibrated by it and will give forth thecorresponding tones, there being no jarring or other objectionabledefects incident to the usual pian0-action,which comprises hammers.

It will of course be understood that in practice the specificconstruction shown may be varied and that any suitable system ofstringing may be employed, and also that a motor of any style may beused in place of the pedal for operating the bow.

Connected with the posts or uprights 66 and 67 are cross-pieces 90 and91 at each end of the frame of the piano, and upon these crosspieces arefixed beams 92 and 93,whioh extend longitudinally of the piano. Thesebeams 92 and 93 carry pins 94: and 95, which enter slots in the rockers59 and 71 and the upwardlyextending portions of the levers 61 and 72 andto hold these parts against lateral movement. Similar pins 95 aredisposed in the beam 57 and enter slots in the keys 62 to hold themproperly spaced, these pins having felt washers disposed at their basesto prevent any noise of the parts striking against the beam.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is illustrated the method of forming thebow,and which method is as follows: On account of the length of the bowrequired it is of course impossible to form each strand of a singlehair, and it is therefore necessary that the bow be built up ofconnected sections. In the formation of the bow a number of hairs arearranged side by side, the adjacent ends of the several hairs beingpassed into a sleeve 100, formed of rubher or other suitable material,and into the sleeve at each end is passed one end of the succeedingseries of hairs, the first series being shown at 101 and the secondseries at 102. This operation is continued until a belt of the properlength is formed, the ends of the belt being then connected. A series ofhairs 103 are laid upon a sleeve 100, and the ends of the hairs of thisseries are passed between thehairs of the series 101 and the hairs ofthe series 102. This same operation is performed at the next sleeve 105and is continued entirely around the belt, the free ends of the firstand last series being finally connected.

Any number of layers may be thus applied, the'result being a belt havingthe proper width andthickness and with the joints of the sections allupon the inner side of the belt. After the belt has been thus made it ismounted upon its carrying-rollers, as above described.

IVhat is claimed is 1. A musical instrument comprising a bow, and meansfor operating it, a series of strings fixed at their ends and adapted tonormally engage the bow, means for holding the strings from engagementwith the bow, means for releasing the strings to permit them to engagethe bow, a plurality of slidable frames, a string carried by each frameand movable therewith into and out of operative relation to the bow, andmeans for moving the frames.

2. A musical instrument comprising a bow, and means for operating it, aseries of strings having their ends fixed and adapted to normally engagethe bow, means forholding the strings out of engagement with the bow,means for releasing the strings to permit them to engage the bow, aseries of slidable frames, a string mounted upon each frame, meanstending to hold the frames with the strings in engagement with the bow,means for holding the frames with the strings out of engagement with thebow, and means for releasing the frames.

3. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of wires, a bow adaptedto vibrate the wires, said Wires being adapted to normally engage thebow, means engaging the strings to hold them normally from engagementwith the bow, means for releasing the strings to permit them to lieagainst the bow, and means for moving the bow toward and away from thestrings to vary the vibratory effect.

4. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of vibratory elements, avibratoradapted for engagement with the vibratory elements, means formoving the vibratory elements into and out of engagement with thevibrator, and means for moving the vibrator toward and away from thevibratory elements to vary the vibratory effect.

5. In a musical instrument the combination with a bow and means foroperating it, of a plurality of wires adjacent the bow and adapted tonormally engage the bow, said Wires having their ends fixed, means formoving the wires between their ends from en gagement with the bow, meansfor releasing the wires to permit them to engage the bow, and means formoving the bow toward and away from the wires.

6. In a musical instrument, the combination with a plurality of wires,of a bow adapted for engagement with the wires, reciprocatory rodshaving rollers at their ends lying upon opposite sides of the bow andadjacent the ends of the latter, and a knee-lever connected with therods for operating them.

7. A bow comprising a plurality of series of hairs having their endssuccessively con- I my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in nected,and a second plurality of series of the presence of two witnesses.hairs, the hairs cf the second series lying EDGAR L HOLOOMBE upon theconnections of the first serles and I 5 having their ends passed betweenthe hairs of the first series and successively connected. In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as \Vitnesses:

R. 1'3. MYERs, S; K. FRANKLIN;

